The game's out there, and it's play or get played. The Wire characters poll. That simple.

i think what i like about bodie is that he embodies the fatalism of the show. (which the season 4 kids do too, obviously.) he's not a boss, not a cop, didn't really seek anything out, just did what there was to do. his moral compass, such as it is, is stuck on a sort of useless loyalty to people and a place that have never really done shit for him. he's not dumb, not smart enough for it to do him any good, and his sense of possibility is inevitably limited by his circumstances. to the extent he's aware of that, he accepts it as just the way things are. and he's right, because that's the way things are.

McNulty's definitely my favorite because he's a sad-sack loser, but never abandons his morals when trying to topple the Baltimore drug trade. Of course, he doesn't give a flying fuck about morals in a any other situation.

Bunk is great too, but I've long been disappointed that his character doesn't play a bigger role in the show. He was much more prominent at the beginning of Season One, but began to fade after that.

Herc is pretty great for comic relief, and Stringer is just pure evil menace. Avon is nice because he can be evil and loveable at the same time.

Very well put tipsy.

I actually wound up voting for D'Angelo. He feels trapped and resentful but is only semi-aware of the extent to which he feels it. The same thing that has given him as much power as he has -- his family connection -- has also kept him from achieving more because it's made him soft; he didn't have to fight to get where he is and he'll always be the baby. The fact that he takes so long to get dressed is a great character detail - he has a veneer of pride but a core of insecurity and indecisiveness.

He has slow-witted moments, but there are plenty of scenes that betray his intelligence - he's smart, just not sharp.

Also I find the fancy restaurant scene heartbreaking (in part because it's exactly how I feel in expensive restaurants). "Do you think they know?"

I always like Daniels the most for some reason. Came close the voting for D'Angelo too--love the Great Gatsby scene.

i loved d'angelo. after his demise, you want namond to break free from the game sooo badly. i think that's why i also loved wallace so much. but damn, i still can't vote! this is way too hard!

He was much more prominent at the beginning of Season One, but began to fade after that.

He does go after Omar in Season 3. I think he's a pretty crucial measuring stick to gauge how McNulty's self-centeredness is ruining everyone else's lives. And this (badly paraphrased) exchange changed my life:

McNulty: Bunk, you know what they call guys who spend so much time thinking about their clothes?
Bunk: Yeah, adults.

Bunk's and Omar's paths crossing in S4=great. Their "Junior Bonner" tribute scene at the train tracks=magnificent.

IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE

Stringer Bell
Omar
Bunk
Bodie
Wee-Bey (the man cared about his fish and i feel that)
Cutty (heinous omission)
Snoop
Proposition Joe
Lester Freamon
Avon Barksdale
Wallace (seriously people wtf)
Jay Landsman
Herc
Slim Charles
Frank Sobotka
Rawls
D'Angelo
Bubbles
Marlo
'Clay' Davis
Pryzbylewski
Chris Partlow
Kima Greggs
Daniels
McNulty
Ellis Carver
Rhonda Pearlman
Tom Carcetti
Maj. Valchek
Burrell
Det. Leander Sydnor
"Poot"
Bunny
Royce
'Beadie' Russell
The Greek
Nick Sobotka
'Ziggy' Sobotka

GUYS! Bernard's girlfriend from season 3. She was GOLD in EVERY SCENE SHE WAS IN!

i totally wanted to fast forward every time she was on screen. i didn't do it, cause i knew i'd miss something crucial, but i really wanted to.

I think I actually ended up voting for D, though the Gatsby scene seemed really heavy-handed to me.

^^^^^^+1 on the Gatsby scene

The chess scene too, honestly.

But I love the "Ey mista nugget" speech.

Ziggy is the greatest fuckup character ever.

exactly

damn I'd forgotten Bodie died.

i figured this would be a toss-up between bodie and wee-bey but only strongo has even mentioned wee-bey!!? weird

he's not in it that much tho.

no deacon, also no credibility

wee-bey is pretty awesome.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

I don't know if he comes back in 4, but I've always felt like Lester Freamon was a poorly utilized character. He's great in S1 but then becomes a caricature of himself.

while omitting Brother M was a mistake-i never really took to him. he seemed out of place to me too. unnatural in a way,when set against everyone else in the wire.

nah he was ok because of his sidekick, you know, the guy who was always rolling his eyes like "there he goes again"

I also think there was much sad irony in what happened to d because on some level string and d were a lot alike.

ziggy was a great character but reminds me of people from college so it's hard to watch him without moderate to intense degree of embarrassment!

I also think there was much sad irony in what happened to d because on some level string and d were a lot alike.

But String is more calculating and more willing to do what he has to do in spite of any distaste for the ugly side of the game.

The first scene Ziggy is in, where he gets his willy out in the bar, is so otm for one of my college friends. I do not understand the Ziggy hate.

The scene where Brother M is ragging on his sidekick for getting the wrong magazines (something about The Nation or Atlantic Weekly?) is presumably supposed to be funny, but I didn't like it and it sums up what everyone is saying about him not really belonging in the show.

lester does come back fairly strong in s04, but when the carcetti story starts there's that much less space for the cops anyway.

brother mouzone is one incongruous mufuuuur… and that is what is GREAT about him

First thought was Stringer, but chances are he'll get enough to win this anyway. So Frank Sabotka for me. I'm a sucker for that 'tragic flawed hero' thing.

i still can not decide!

no one else going for bunk at all??? FOR SHAME!

Bunk is best when he's trying to set his pants on fire

or vomiting.

or peeing on a train track.

bunk vote from me

this is hard

I voted Bunk.

I love Bunk, even more so after realizing it was him in When the Levees Broke.

(had to vote for Omar though, couldn't help it)

good to see all the love for bodie
i gotta vote avon though

Tweedy impertinence, y'all.

Omar was my gut reaction, though I'm coming round to realize that my heart might actually be with Snoop. Dukie is a close third, and I'm sorry to see that he and his classmates were not among the options.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

huh

'bout right.

wee-bey, Pryzbylewski, prop joe all robbed

prop joe not that great.

For a (so far) medium to minor character, he's pretty great.

i was considering him but he's sort of underused so far.

didn't vote but might have voted rawls.

I voted Bunk, but I kinda wish I had voted Prez.

Rawls deserved a vote for the gay bar cameo.